Wike’s Aide Says Ex-Naval Chief Was Scammed In Disputed Abuja Land Deal
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Publicity and Communications to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has shed more light on the ownership controversy surrounding a disputed plot of land in Abuja, which recently sparked a confrontation between the minister and a naval officer. According to Olayinka, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.), who claimed the land belonged to him, was a victim of fraud. He explained that the property was first allocated in 2007 to a company, Santos Estate Limited, for the development of a park and recreation centre. However, the company could not proceed with the project because the plot was located on a designated walkway. In 2022, Santos Estate Limited applied to the FCT Administration for a change of use—from “park and recreation” to “public park”—but the request was denied. Olayinka alleged that despite the refusal, the firm went ahead to divide and sell parts of the land to private buyers, including Gambo. “The former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo, was scammed. And he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of him to come out and seek help, he resorted to using military might,” Olayinka said. He stressed that since the change-of-use request had been rejected, any ongoing residential construction on the property was illegal and not recognised by the FCT Administration.